Volusia Well Owners Urged To Test Water For Nitrates

DAYTONA BEACH — Well owners in Volusia County should drink bottled water until they test their wells for nitrate contamination, which can harm newborn babies, health officials warned Wednesday.

The warning was issued after increasing numbers of new wells had test samples above nitrate levels suggested by federal drinking water standards.

In 1989, five of the county's estimated 40,000 private wells exceeded the 10 parts per million standard. This year, the Health Department discovered 22 wells above the recommended level.

''We've had more in recent months than ever before, so we decided to alert the public and play it safe,'' said Ray Van Loon, a Health Department environmental engineer.

The at-risk wells in Volusia are generally found in rural areas, where farming, livestock and septic tanks are prevalent.

The highest nitrate levels were found in an Oak Hill well and were nearly triple the 10 ppm standard. Other wells tested between 15 ppm and 25 ppm, which health officials consider a borderline safety concern.

Public supply wells - which are drilled deeper, serve more than 25 people and are regularly tested - have shown no signs of contamination. Private wells are tested only when they are drilled.

There have been scattered problems with elevated nitrate levels in Orange and Lake county wells, but nothing in excess of the mid-20s ppm, said Tom Atkeson, chief of environmental epidemiology of the state health office. Poisoning cases are rare.

''There's not an epidemic,'' Atkeson said. ''I don't know of any nitrate poisoning and I've been here for eight years.''

High nitrate levels can cause ''blue baby syndrome'' where the body's ability to transport oxygen is hindered. Infants younger than six months are the most susceptible because of their immature systems, but some experts warn pregnant women to avoid exposure.

''At a level higher than 10 (ppm) is where babies are at risk,'' Van Loon said. ''There's no risk to adults in anything we've seen.''

Many of the affected wells are only 50 feet deep, have generally poor water quality and are susceptible to contamination, said Tom Carey, Volusia's ground water program manager.

''I'm thinking most of these people are already on bottled water,'' said Carey, adding that the wells are a small percentage of the county's total.

Officials blamed this year's heavy rains for introducing more nitrates into the ground water. Higher water levels force pollutants from septic tanks and farms into underground water supplies.

Water with high levels of nitrates does not taste, look or smell different than clean water. Officials urged well owners to have their water tested at the Health Department or an environmental lab. The department charges $10.

Officials urge well owners to have their water tested annually, a recommendation they say is generally not followed.